The newly released Commodore Callback has had an early price cut as Commodore says they've "listened" to customer feedback on its initial $499 price point. If you hadn't heard, the phone is somewhat of a revelation in the dumbphone sector, with a gorgeous design and features geared towards those who want to be more offline. And yes, it's made by the makers of some of the best retro game consoles.
Now priced at $399, the phone boasts a block on all social media apps forever, whilst retaining Dual Sim, expandable memory, Wifi hotspot functionality, bluetooth and is compatible with 99% of Android apps. It also has a removable, replaceable battery, and a 48MP Sony rear camera with flash and intelligent autofocus. Built-in FM radio. Linux based.
This feels like a great option if you're looking for a dumbphone life with some of the necessary modern extras – and wrapped up in a funky design. I'm not quite sure what to say about the T9 texting, but I've wanted a flip phone like that one since the '00s – and this one is actually incredibly cool.
It's still a bit more expensive than you'd pay for a traditional dumbphone, but its price now sits somewhere between a normal dumbphone and a fully fledged smartphone. This feels like the right price bracket.
While some commenters have called this the "phone nobody asked for", I think it's a fun step away from the the way dumbphones have been designed up until now. And the enhanced functionality it offers means you can use maps and listen to music – the lack of these types of features mean dumphones haven't felt like a real option for many until now.
